Ajinkya Rahane, right, proved to be a ruthless captain while standing in for Virat Kohli. Aijaz Rahi / AP Photo

Ruthless captaincy

The fact Rahane sent the Afghans straight back in to follow on, and India went on to bowl them out twice in the space of two sessions, meant no extra batting practice.

Rahane should be applauded for maintaining the integrity of the match by trying to win it in the most ruthless fashion possible, rather than turn it into a glorified net.

But players like himself and Cheteshwar Pujara could have done with the time in the middle.

With Virat Kohli running through yo-yo tests elsewhere on site in Bengaluru, it was a reminder that there are only a certain amount of batting berths to go round. Someone is going to have to make when we he returns.

India left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja is one of India's top two spinners in Test cricket, the other being Ravichandran Ashwin. Aijaz Rahi / AP Photo

Spin twins

The green pitch was not only testing for the batsmen. Ravichandran Ashwin had match figures of 5-59, while slow-left armer Ravindra Jadeja returned 6-35.

Two front-line spinners are not always seen as an essential requirement in a starting XI in England, but Rahane said the spin duo have shown they are more than capable.

“We wanted to create such a pitch, because we are going to play five Test matches [in England],” Rahane said.

“We wanted to practise like what we are going to face in England. Ashwin and Jadeja are quality bowlers who can bowl on any surface.”